System and method for circuits to allow CPAP to provide zero pressure

Abstract

A system comprises a respiratory delivery arrangement adapted to cover at least one respiratory orifice of a patient. The system also comprises a first conduit having a first end and a second end, the second end connected to the respiratory delivery arrangement. A positive pressure is provided to the respiratory orifice via the first conduit and a second conduit having a third end and a fourth end, the fourth end connected to the respiratory delivery arrangement. An exhaled gas is extracted from the respiratory orifice by one or both of a valve configured to redirect flow through the respiratory delivery arrangement and a venturi opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a respiratory mask adapted to cover at least one respiratory orifice of a patient; 
 a respiratory device configured to deliver a positive pressure gas flow; 
 a first conduit extending from a first end connected to the respiratory device to a second end connected to the respiratory mask, the first conduit including a valve movable between a first position and a second position, the first position being configured to seal an opening in a wall of the first conduit, and the second position being configured to obstruct air flow through the first conduit to the respiratory mask; 
 a second conduit positioned within the first conduit and extending from a third end to a fourth end connected to the respiratory mask, the third end being separate from the first end; 
 a sensing element for detecting data corresponding to a breathing pattern of a patient; and 
 a controller for controlling the positive pressure gas flow based on the data detected by the sensing element and moving the valve to the first position when the positive pressure gas flow is above a predetermined pressure and to the second position when the positive pressure from the respiratory device is below the predetermined pressure. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the respiratory device is a CPAP blower. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pressure is selected based on breathing parameters of the patient. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pressure is between 3 cm H 2 O to 5 cm H 2 O. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the respiratory mask comprises a leak port configured to vent a portion of exhaled gas from the at least one respiratory orifice out of the respiratory mask. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein when the valve is in the first position, the positive pressure flows through the first conduit, and when the valve is in the second position, a portion of exhaled gas from the at least one respiratory orifice exits the system through the first conduit or the second conduit. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first conduit further comprises an opening formed in a wall of the first conduit, the opening configured to reversibly open the first conduit to ambient atmosphere. 
     
     
       8. A system, comprising:
 a respiratory mask adapted to cover at least one respiratory orifice of a patient; 
 a respiratory device configured to deliver a positive pressure gas flow; 
 a first conduit extending from a first end connected to the respiratory device to a second end connected to the respiratory mask, the first conduit including a valve movable between a first position and a second position; and 
 a second conduit positioned within the first conduit and extending from a third end to a fourth end connected to the respiratory mask, the third end being separate from the first end, 
 wherein, when the valve is in the first position, the positive pressure gas flow is provided to the at least one respiratory orifice through the first conduit, and 
 wherein, when the valve is in the second position, the positive pressure gas flow is prevented from flowing through the first conduit to the respiratory mask, and a first portion of exhaled gas from the at least one respiratory orifice is directed away from the respiratory mask through the first or second conduit. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the respiratory device is a CPAP blower. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the respiratory mask comprises a leak port configured to vent a second portion of exhaled gas from the at least one respiratory orifice out of the respiratory mask. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first conduit further comprises an opening formed in a wall of the first conduit, the opening configured to reversibly open the first conduit to ambient atmosphere. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a controller for moving the valve to the first position when the positive pressure gas flow is above a predetermined pressure and to the second position when the positive pressure gas flow is below a predetermined pressure. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined pressure is selected based on breathing parameters of the patient. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined pressure is between 3 cm H 2 O to 5 cm H 2 O. 
     
     
       15. A method, comprising:
 positioning a respiratory mask to cover at least one respiratory orifice of a patient, the respiratory mask being connected to a first conduit and a second conduit positioned within the first conduit, the first conduit extends from a first end connected to a respiratory device configured to deliver a positive pressure gas flow to a second end connected to the respiratory mask, the first conduit including a valve movable between a first position and a second position, and the second conduit extends from a third end to a fourth end connected to the respiratory mask, the third end being separate from the first end; 
 monitoring data corresponding to a breathing pattern of the patient; 
 delivering the positive pressure gas flow at a predetermined pressure from the respiratory device to the first conduit, the predetermined pressure being adjusted based on the data; and 
 controlling the valve so that when the positive pressure gas flow from the respiratory device is above a predetermined pressure, the valve is moved to the first position and the positive pressure gas flow is provided to the at least one respiratory orifice through the first conduit, and when the positive pressure gas flow from the respiratory device is below a predetermined pressure, the valve is move to the second position and the positive pressure gas flow is prevented from flowing through the first conduit to the respiratory mask. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the patient suffers from sleep apnea. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the respiratory device is a CPAP blower. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined pressure is selected based on breathing parameters of the patient. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined pressure is between 3 cm H 2 O to 5 cm H 2 O. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein when the valve is in the second position, a portion of exhaled gas from the at least one respiratory orifice exits the system through the first conduit or the second conduit.